This Weblog is a series of lessons and articles in fiqh according to the school of Abu Hanifah. They are not necessarily published in the order that they should be read.

Wednesday, July 14, 2004

The types of filth

Filth (Najaasah) are of two types:

1. Harsh filth. It is invalid to pray with more than the size of a dirham of this kind of filth on one's body or clothes. In this one considers the weight for najis that has a body (4.5 gram ), and the surface area (equivalent to the area in which water would remain if the hand was held open and flat) for liquid.
2. Lesser filth. It is invalid to pray with this filth on ones body if it is more than 25% of the body or 25% of a piece of clothing.

Harsh filth

Lesser filth

All of the pig

Urine of edible animals

The saliva, blood, urine and feces of beasts of prey

Dung of cows, camels, sheep and goats

Wine from grapes

Alcohol other than that from grapes

Spilled blood of any kind. Exempted is the blood remaining in the meat of a slaughtered animal. Likewise exempted is the spleen, heart and liver of a slaughtered animal.

Feces of birds of prey (but the feces of edible birds that defecate while flying is not filthy - such as sparrows and doves)

The feces of poultry, geese and ducks

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The urine and eggs of inedible animals

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Anything that comes out of the body that breaks the ablution. This means that vomit is not filth until it reaches a mouthful.

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Some things that are not filth (najis):

The feces of edible birds that defecate while flying.

Tanned leather , bones and hair (cleaned from blood and grease), except if it is from the pig.

The meat of any animal that has been slaughtered the way edible animals are slaughtered by Muslims.

Some scholars said that the feces or urine of edible animals is not (najis) filthy.

The blood of fish, insects and animals that are both born and continue to live in the water. In the case of a frog that lives outside the water: its blood is filthy if it has flowing blood.

The saliva of edible animals and humans unless one is aware of filth in their mouth or lips. This means that if they drink from little water, then it remains pure, purifying and not disliked.

The drops of the moisture that collect on the walls and roof of bathrooms (i.e. from evaporation).